A musician’s refusal of a nine-to-five job sparked debate on social media. Zoe Wynns faces both criticism and support as she advocates for a creative life, challenging conventional employment expectations.
Credit: Instagram/ @zoewynnsmusic
After a musician advertised her skills by claiming she “cannot do a nine-to-five job,” people flocked to social media.
Look, nine-to-five jobs are generally far more work than they appear to be, so why should we continue working at them if we don’t enjoy them?
There is a purpose behind certain companies’ implementation of a four-day workweek.
But when folks begin to cry because they have to work the same shift that so many others have been doing for years?
Credit: Instagram/ @zoewynnsmusic
Well, opinions on social media over the matter are still mixed. And now there’s a musician igniting the argument.
Earlier this year, musician Zoe Wynns said on Instagram that she “cannot do a nine to five.”
In the video, she says: “I know this is gonna sound spoiled, I know this is gonna sound like some artsy creative who you know just doesn’t wanna put in the hard work and hours, but I physically do not think I can do it.”
“I start to cry if I have more than like three non-creative tasks to do in a day and imagine doing eight hours a day of something that I don’t really love for the rest of my life… So there’s no other option. This has to work.”
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And by this, Zoe is referring to her musical career, to which she dedicates a caption.
The text in the caption says: “I think I was made to create. Check out my music under Zoe Wynns on all platforms! #alternativeartist #smallmusician #composer.”
Zoe ends her video by sharing a quote that she once heard “in a show”:”‘People like us can’t live normal lives. If we try, it kills us.'”
She resolves: “And honestly? I am throwing myself into that category ’cause I think I will simply die.”
“So if you want to listen to my music and help me, you know, one step in the process of me not literally dying, please stream it. I love you guys.”
Sadly, though, not everyone agrees with Zoe’s stance on employment.
People flocked to the post to engage in a spirited discussion on working a nine-to-five job.
One Instagram user said: “Not the trust fund kids coming up with philosophical ways to accept and identify with their laziness.”
“Ur parents worked so you can do this, think about that,” another added.
A third commented: “As someone who is disabled and has to work eight hour shifts that actually do try to kill me, everything you’re saying is so selfish and it is arrogant. ‘Oh I don’t want to work eight hours a day I will LiTeRaLlY DiE’ well tough s**t that’s life. I’m an artist and I would love to live off of commissions and not have to work another job because I love drawing and that doesn’t cause me any pain.”
Credit: Instagram/ @zoewynnsmusic
“But that’s not how it works and you can’t just go up and post on social media ‘hey I don’t wanna work because I’m special and I don’t deserve to work because I’m creative go support my content’ like there’s thousands of better ways to promote your content that being entitled and thinking you don’t have to work because you don’t want to.”
Nonetheless, several have defended Zoe, with one user saying: “It’s not spoiled in least bit. Our purpose extends beyond the mundane cycle of work, eat, sleep, and repeat; we are here to create and explore. While financial stability matters, transforming one’s passion into income adds an extra layer of fulfillment. Many may not grasp this concept, but for us creative souls, life’s essence transcends the confines of mere labor.”
A second echoed: “Thinking that we have to work ourselves to death is colonizer thinking, and anyone who defends that is supporting that. So please don’t listen to these people in the comments, you freaking got this!